Bulgaria: Double growth in organic gardens with perennials

In 2019, Bulgaria experienced a significant shift in its agricultural sector, with a 39.2% increase in the total area under organic production and transition to organic production, reaching 226,000.5 hectares, as per the Agrarian Report 2020. This marks a substantial growth from the 162,332.4 hectares of the previous year, with perennial crops like organic fruits seeing a doubling of area. Despite this growth, there was a reduction in the area for permanent meadows, pastures, and fallow lands. The production of various organic products, including milk, cream, butter, cheese, mussels, seaweed, and honey, also saw slight increases from the previous year. Bulgaria has become one of the largest exporters of wild dried berries and herbs, with organic products finding a home in both the domestic and international markets, particularly in Europe. The demand for organic products in Bulgaria is outpacing production, with a growing number of specialized stores and retail outlets dedicated to organic food.